Nut lock



S. C. ENZENAUER.

NUT LOCK.

APPLICATlON FILED NOV.Z3, 192x.

Patented Nov. 7, W221.

INVENTOR 3. C. ED262761 M67",

A TTUR/VE Y8 Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

PATENT lira STEPHEN C. ENZENAUER, OF BANGROFT, IDAHO.

NUT LOCK.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, STEPHEN C. ENZE- NAUER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bancroft, in the county of Bannock and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut Locks, of which the following is a specifi cation.

My invention relates to nut locks, and the object of my invention is the provision of a nut lock comprising a nut carried locking key adapted to cooperate with a grooved or channeled bolt to effect the locking of the nut against rotation on the bolt, the key be ing mounted upon the nut in such manner as to be yieldingly and releasably held in looking position and to thus be capable of movement to released position to allow the rotation or removal of the nut.

I will describe one form of nut lock embodying m invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view, showing in top plan one form of nut lock embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a view, showing in side elevati on the nut lock shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the nut lock;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the spring comprised in the nut lock shown in the preceding views; and

Figure 5 is a detailed perspective View of the locking key.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings, my invention in its present form comprises a bolt 13 having its periphery at its threaded end grooved or channelled longitudinally at regular intervals, as at 15.

The nut, designated at N, is as usual adapted to threadedly engage the bolt, but in addition thereto is recessed as indicated at 16, to slidably receive a wedge-shaped key 17 and in such manner that the smaller end of the key can project into the bolt receiving opening of the nut. As disclosed in Figure 5 the key 17 is provided with a shoulder 18 against which a spring S is adapted to releasably bear to retain the key in looking position with respect to the teeth 15 of the bolt B. Adjacent the outer end 01 the key, a groove 19 is formed to facilitate the use of the finger or of a suitable tool it desired, for retracting the key to released position, as will be hereinafter more fully described. In order to permit of the ready removal of dirt or grime which is liable to accumulate in the recess 16 behind the key 17, the recess is provided with an extension or outlet 16 extending to the side of the nut and through which the dirt may be expelled.

The spring S as shown in Figures 1 and -11; is of ovate "form so to allow the passage of the bolt l3 therethrough and at the same time to secure the resiliency necessary in re taining the key 17 in locking position with respect to the bolt. As shown in Figure 4, the ends of the spring S are formed with depending tapered lugs 20 which widen towards their base and which are adapted to be fitted within a recess n1 formed in th nut N and to be anchored therein by clinching the lugs together and in the recess. These lugs 20 are designed for the purpose of fixedly securing one portion of the spring. At the upper edges of the ends of the spring upstanding projections 22 are formed and merge into the spring proper, as at 23,to give the required strength and capacity for tlexion at these points at which the greatest strains occur.

The spring S engages the shoulder 18 when the key 17 is in looking engagement with the bolt and when the key 17 is retracted to permit of the removal or adjustment of the nut the spring bears upon the flat top 17 of the key to hold the key in the recess 16. In order to facilitate the retraction of the key the nut is provided with a countersunk recess 25 which lies beneath the spring S at a point adjacent the recess 16, as most clearly shown in Figure 1. In order to permit of the retraction of the key 17 a suitable tool is inserted in the recess 25 and is then utilized to raise or flex the spring S upwardly and above the shoulder 18 so that when the key is retracted the spring will bear upon the flat top 17*.

In operation after the nut N has been adjusted on the bolt B to the desired extent, the key 17 is slid into engagement with a groove or channel 15 of the bolt B: and the spring S then snaps into engagement behind the shoulder 18 as most clearly seen in Figure 3. The nut is then securely locked on the bolt. When it is desired to release the nut a suitable tool is inserted in the recess 25 below the spring S and is used to raise the spring S from behind the shoulder 18, the key 1'? being then retracted with the finger or with a tool cooperating with the groove 19. In the retracted position oi the key it is just clear of the bolt and it is held in position in the recess 16 by the spring S which bears upon the top of the key. It is to be noted that when the spring is flexed upwardly to permit oi" the retraction of the key 17 the greatest bend or flexion occurs at the portions 23 of the spring which being relatively heavy and constructed as described are well adapted not only to give the requisite capacity for iiexion but also to stand all the strains incident thereto.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of nut lock embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A nut lock comprising a bolt having longitudinally extending grooves in its periphery, a nut coacting with the bolt and provided with a recess, a locking key slidably fitted in the recess and selectively engageable with the grooves of the bolt, said locking key having a shoulder, a split ovate spring surrounding the bolt and engaging the key, the ends oi the spring being formed with tapering depending lugs, said nut having a recess in which the lugs are received and secured to anchor the spring, said spring being engageable with the shoulder of the key to maintain the key in locking engagement with a groove oi the bolt, the spring being releasable from its engagement with the shoulder to permit retraction of the key and being adapted to bear upon the top of the key to maintain the key in its recess when retracted.

2. A nut lock comprising a belt, a nut coacting with the belt, a key carried by the nut and engageable with the bolt and a spring anchored to the nut and engageable with the key for maintaining it in looking engagement with the bolt, the spring being adapted to be flexed so to be moved out the recess, said spring being engageable with the shoulder of the key to urge it into engagement with the groove of said bolt, the spring being adapted to be flexed away from the nut so as to be disengaged from said shoulder to permit retraction of the key and being adapted to bear upon the top of the key to maintain it in its recess in retracted position. v

4. A nut lock comprising a bolt having longitudinally extending grooves in its periphery, a nut coacting with the bolt and provided with a recess having an extension through the side of the nut, a locking key slidably fitted in the recess and adapted to selectively engage in the grooves of the bolt, said locking key having a shoulder and a groove, 2. split ovate spring sur ounding the bolt and engaging the key, the ends o1 the spring being formed with tapered depending lugs, said nut having a recess in which the lugs are received and secured to anchor the spring, said spring being engageable with the shoulder of the key to maintain the key in locking engagement with the groove of the bolt, said nut having a depression underlying the spring adjacent the recess in which the key is arranged to facilitate the release of the spring from its engage ment with the shoulders, the groove in the key facilitating the retraction of the key on the release of the spring, the spring bearing upon the key in the retracted position thereof to maintain it in position in the recess.

STEPHEN C. ENZENAUER. 

